Kenvue, the maker of Benadryl, has announced the launch of India’s reportedly first “Cough Clinics” in partnership with the Association of Physicians of India (API). The initiative aims to create ten Cough Centres of Excellence across the country, with the first established at BSES Hospital in Andheri, Mumbai.
The clinics will focus on equipping healthcare professionals with training in scientific evaluation of coughs using a symptom-based approach. The programme has been developed to address the lack of standardised diagnostic tools in cough management and the overreliance on empirical, experience-based therapy.
According to data cited from the Journal of the Association of Physicians of India, 70 per cent of individuals with cough receive therapy without a confirmed diagnosis, often resulting in the use of irrational multi-ingredient formulations. This increases treatment costs and the risk of side effects, particularly in children and the elderly.
The initiative is designed to reduce these risks by training physicians to categorise coughs using a validated diagnostic tool. The Cough Categorisation Tool, developed by national experts and published in JAPI in 2024, enables classification of coughs as wet, dry, or multi-symptom, and flags red flag symptoms and triggers.
Each Cough Clinic will deliver three structured learning modules focused on cough evaluation, sound recognition, treatment decision-making, and rational prescribing. The modules have been curated and validated by API, and will be led by leading pulmonologists. Participating physicians will also be assessed for knowledge gains and experience through a Net Promoter Score (NPS).
Prashant Shinde, Business Unit Head – Self-Care, Kenvue India, said, “Benadryl has been trusted by doctors for over 50 years. We continue working closely with health care professionals to advance the science behind cough and bring the most targeted solutions to deliver superior treatment outcomes. We have always believed in keeping our formulations simple and yet targeted, without burdening the patient with unwanted ingredients or actives. Similarly, we are working with health care professionals to raise awareness of non-bronchodilator formulations for productive cough since there is enough evidence to show that not all productive cough needs a bronchodilator. We are excited to collaborate with API as we jointly simplify cough management with this pioneering initiative which will help provide crucial clinical training to healthcare professionals and equip them to follow evidence-based management strategies in cough.”
Dr Agam Vora, Honorary General Secretary of the Association of Physicians of India, said, “Despite the high burden of cough-related consultations in India, standardised diagnostic tools have largely been missing in primary care, leading to overdependence on empirical treatment and missed opportunities for early intervention. We are delighted to launch India’s first ever Cough Clinics in association with Kenvue to offer physicians in primary care with specialised training and tools to understand different types of coughs and improve patient care.”
Dr Harshad Malve, Medical Head – Self Care & Operations, Kenvue, added, “India faces a unique challenge where our cough category is inundated with complex formulations and unwanted ingredients. Our collaboration with API helps us tackle this issue with an aim to bring about a simplified, validated approach to provide effective and safe treatment with targeted formulations. This approach will enhance both diagnostic precision and deliver superior patient outcomes.”
In India, adults experience an average of three episodes of cough per year, while children may experience 7–10 episodes. Post-COVID trends have further increased the frequency and duration of cough. With cough being one of the most common symptoms presented to primary care doctors, the clinics aim to bring clinical rigour to its evaluation and management.
The initiative will be rolled out in phases in cities including Lucknow, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Kolkata. Kenvue and API plan to reach over 1,000 healthcare professionals in the first year.
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